Future Transport

[Bathsheba]

Branching off from the 4WD thread: HERE

I often think about what the future holds for transportation... especially in the private sector: the family car.

I think most people would predict an expansion of the public transport system. i feel like a bit of a prophet in one regard: when i first came to Melbourne in 1992 I told friends that the train system was great but that I thought it would have to be expanded... and lines re-established to country stations etc and out deeper into suburbs. To my delight this is happening despite people saying that it never would. Since 1992 I have witnessed a very encouraging increase in demand for public transport... it's been phenomenal. yes, it's crowded at the moment but demand will increase supply... i feel optimistic that more families will incorporate using public transport into their daily lives. It's SO much easier getting around with a pram these days that it was 10 years ago too!

Regarding the family car. I think the arrival of peak oil (the point at which oil starts to decrease in supply) will start to change things quite rapidly. I think that the price of petrol will start to sky rocket over quite a short period of time. In response to this the electric car will soon out number the petrol driven. I can see a time where most garages will contain a dock over which the electric car will park to recharge for it's next trip. People will probably be more likely to have solar panels etc to generate the extra electricity this will require.

Anyone have any other predictions?

[Nelle]

The Jetsons.

That's all I'm saying.

[beetle]

I'd like to see better conditions for bike riders. I'm not one myself, and this is because I am scared of riding on the roads in the inner city. I'm in Japan at the moment and we've been loving getting around on bikes - it's a very popular mode of transport here and 100% enviro-friendly.

It's a bit weird seeing people with 2 kids on a bike (one on the back, one in the front basket) though! And nobody wears helmets.

I also hope to keep being a 1-car household and use public transport as long as I can, but I know it's harder for families living further out of the city.

[Bathsheba]

Oh yes! I'm sure bike paths etc will be improved. I'd LOVE to have a good bike but where i live is quite hilly and I don't think I'd be fit enough to tackle the hills here on a bike... I walk ok.

So, yes, dedicated bike paths for sure!

[doudou]

yes i can see those type changes happening in and around cities but in country areas it will still be very dependant on individuals owning transportation.
considering where i live the public transport starts a 9am(cos no one working would use it )this means you cannot use it for work purposes generally..

[Glamourcide]

All I can say is that while hybrid/electric cars are so UGLY, I will spend as much as I have to on petrol. Why, Toyota? Why can't you just make a Prius that *looks* like a VZ Commodore (or, seeing as it's Toyota, a decent Aurion or something)? These bleeding 'eco-friendly' cars are so awful to look at, they hurt my eyes. I'd never be seen dead in one.
I *love* public transport on the rare occasions I'm anywhere near a capital city, but unfortunately I don't hold out much hope for having any improvements in regional areas (I mean well away from the cities, I'm 600km north of Brisbane for instance), at least not in my lifetime while the government is solely focused on South-East Queensland and pretends the rest of the state doesn't exist. I'd happily use public transport if I actually had the option, but up here it's either buses every hour and a half between 8am and 4pm on weekdays (which isn't practical as it takes literally an entire day to get to two places, you spend all day sitting waiting for the next bus), or taxis, in which case I may as well drive my own car.

[Rouge]

Jet Packs. A girl can dream right?

I have no doubt that some of the major car industries have tricks up their sleeves waiting for the right moment.

[Nelle]

I've always wondered if jet packs would prove a problem if you had a larger posterior?
It's pretty vital that I know, I need to know whether I can let myself go or not.

[Lady Zaidie]

Jet pack boots.

People keep saying teleportation (though not here, I notice). I just think of what Douglas Adams wrote about that:
I teleported home last night
With Ron and Sid and Meg.
Ron stole Meggie's heart away
And I got Sidney's leg.

[Rouge]

Great minds Ryn I was going to say Jet Pack boots ala astroboy LOL!

[Trillian]

I'm with Nelle, I wanna be zipping around like George Jetson. But out here we don't have a choice BUT to drive if we want to go somewhere as we are out of town. I think it will make the entire world collapse financially because the average family could not afford to replace a car so quickly and the Govts around the world would go broke subsidising it.